Route of the Sun

Travel from Cuzco to Puno or vice-versa along Peru’s enchanting Route of the Sun. Enjoy stops at historical sights and highlights along the way: Andahuaylillas Start the morning with a visit to the church of San Pedro Apostol de Andahuaylillas, which was built by Jesuits in the 16th century, and is known as the «Sistine Chapel of the Andes» for its exceptionally beautiful murals. Like other Spanish constructions of the time, it was built on top of a Huaca, or sacred place for the Incas, and is made out of adobe and brick with a nave, apse. and bell tower.Raqchi, Temple of Wiracocha At this Inca archaeological site, walk through the ancient Temple of Wiracocha, which is believed to have once contained the largest roof in the Inca empire. Over 300 feet (92 meters) high and 83 feet (25 meters) wide, the temple was considered a «Kallanka» structure because of its roof made of straw. Only the towering walls remain, and your guide will tell you how the temple was built to honor the Incan gods. Sicuani Enjoy lunch in this highland town that also serves as the intersection for the road between Arequipa and Puno. Surrounded by gently rolling hills, the town is where you’ll enjoy an exclusive, buffet style lunch. La Raya Pass Abra La Raya, or La Raya Pass, tops out at an altitude of 14,232 feet (4,338 meters), and towers between the valleys that separate Cuzco from Lake Titicaca. Pukara Pukara was the first regional population center in the northern Lake Titicaca Basin during the Late Formative Period (500 BC- AD 200), providing valuable insights into the origins of Andean civilization in the highlands. During its peak it covered nearly a square mile and housed thousands of bureaucrats, priests, artisans, farmers, herders, and warriors. The Pukara style is identified by exquisite, multi-colored pottery, as well as impressive monolithic sculptures, with detailed images and shapes.